Piscataway, NY (March 21) - Senior midfielder Casey McGrath (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) scored four goals, but it was not enough as #18 Rutgers used a late 6-0 run to capture a 14-12 win over Hofstra on Wednesday.

With the win, the Scarlet Knights improve to 6-1 on the season, while Hofstra slips to 2-4 with the loss.

McGrath and sophomore midfielder Lauren Whitcomb (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) scored back to back goals for the Pride to break an 8-8 tie and give Hofstra a 10-8 lead with 20:12 left in the contest. However, Rutgers bounced back to score the next six goals to take control of the game.

Mallory Tornetta started the run to cut the Pride lead to 10-9, and Jamie Farewell followed 30 seconds later to even the score at 10-10 with 17:20 left on the clock. Just 29 seconds later, Katy Lawrence snapped the tie and gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good at 11-10.

Nina Frankoski then scored a pair of goals to put Rutgers ahead 13-10. She scored an unassisted goal at 11:50, then added a free position shot with 7:29 left. Katie Batiuk capped off the run with a goal with 3:10 remaining. McGrath scored a pair of goals 14 seconds apart to pull Hofstra within 14-12 with 2:41 to go, but the Pride could come no closer.

Whitcomb, senior midfielder Becky Thorn (Holbrook, NY/Sachem), and senior attack Kimberly Hillier (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) added two goals apiece for Hofstra. Frankowski led the Scarlet Knights with four goals, while Batiuk added three and Brooke Cantwell chipped in with two.

Hofstra held a 37-25 edge in shots for the contest, but Rutgers goalies Sandra Abel (9) and Erika Paige (4) combined for 13 saves on the day. Junior Maisee Osteen (Charlottesville, VA/Charlottesville) had three saves for Hofstra.

The Pride will next be in action when it travels to New Hampshire next Wednesday for a 3:00 p.m. contest.

2007-03-21